Alice Saville

Believe it or not, but it won’t be long now until we’re sitting around Christmas trees, unwrapping presents, stuffing our faces with festive food and then slumping in front of the telly as Grandma gets sozzled on sherry. Yes, Christmas is just around the corner and, as always, it will be turning London into a sparkling winter wonderland. Tis the season for ice skating rinks popping up outside every big London attraction and Christmas markets in quaint wooden huts taking over the outdoor space that’s left. Then you’ve got entertainment from the traditional – shouting ‘he’s behind you!’ at pantomimes, kidding yourself you can sing in tune at wholesome carol services – to the modern, like ritzy private dining pop-ups and OTT light displays. You’d think Time Out’s editorial team would be pretty jaded by the holiday season, covering all these Christmassy goings-on year after year. But while we’re a pretty cynical bunch most of the time, we can’t help but get excited for Christmas in London, no matter how many times we’ve glided across the Somerset House ice rink, strolled around the Southbank Centre’s Winter Market or chuckled at the predictably rude puns in Dick Whittington. Still, after collectively experiencing several lifetimes’ worth of festive fun in the capital, we’re pretty confident we know what definitely is and isn’t worth your time. Here we’ve listed fifty of our favourite festive events around the capital in 2024; hopefully it provides you with everything you need to

As fun and festive as Christmas is, the idea of having to head out into the crowds and scour the shops for the perfect presents for everyone in your life might not fill you with excitement. Instead of turning to the temptation of online ordering, skip the high street and head straight for one of London’s many markets. In the run-up to Crimbo, the capital becomes home to tons of wintry fairs, stacked with stalls selling unique pressies from small businesses and independent designers that you’d never find in the big shops online or off. They’re perfect for browsing as the big day looms and a good excuse to treat yourself to Christmas snacks and mulled wine as you tick gifts off your list. You’ll find everything you need to make someone’s Christmas Day memorable at London’s pop-up markets, from ceramics and plants to pressies from around the world. While many markets will require you to think about gift-getting weeks in advance, there are still options for those who thrive on last-minute chaos, too. Recommended: Our complete guide to Christmas in London.

Whether you’re a regular in church or only step into one occasionally to admire the architecture, you can’t deny the impact that hearing carols reverberating around the spires can have on your festive mood. Carol concerts are peak Christmas and London plays host to a variety of them in the run-up to the day. There are events to suit all styles and moods, from the iconic splendour of St Paul’s annual concerts to glam charity bashes and events that highlight cultural traditions. In between all the hubbub of the Christmas season, from light displays, festivals and big events, one of the city’s carol concerts will provide the perfect moment of respite and reflection. RECOMMENDED: Our comprehensive guide to Christmas in London

London's got a well-earned reputation for being one of the world's priciest cities. But look past the spenny restaurants, costly cocktails, and luxury boutiques and you'll find a place that's packed with fun things to do on a seriously tight budget. Free museums and art galleries, gorgeous parks, gratis jazz nights... you could easily fill every night of the week with free stuff to do in London. Read on for some of the very best ways to set yourself (and your wallet) free.    RECOMMENDED: 101 best things to do in London

Even if you’re the biggest Scrooge in the game, you can’t deny that London looks pretty magical once the Christmas lights have been turned on and tinsel-covered trees greet you at every turn. Luckily, the city is never in short supply of festive light displays, whether you’re looking for something classic – like Regent Street’s trumpet-playing angels, or a themed display, like those found on Carnaby Street. Each string beams bright enough to warm the coldest of hearts quicker than you can say ‘Bah, humbug’. Here are the best London illuminations to check out to get you in the Christmas spirit this year. RECOMMENDED: sign up to our excellent, free London newsletter. It's full of great suggestions.  What dates do the Christmas lights go on in London? London starts to fill up with Christmas light displays in early November each year, with Oxford Street's decorations leading the charge, followed by countless local displays across the city as December hits full swing. We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of switch-on dates here.Recommended: ❄️ Find out about the most Christmassy events in the city. 🎄 Check out London's very best Christmas markets. 🌟 See our full festive guide to Christmas in London.

It’s hard not to fall in love with London all over again at Christmastime. In the run-up to December 25 each year, the city becomes a glittering wonderland of all things festive, from gorgeous light displays to quaint markets with warming mulled wine and pressie perfect trinkets, a packed calendar of Crimbo events to gleaming ice rinks. But all of that would feel like it was missing something if a whole host of eye-catching Christmas trees didn’t also accompany it. London’s festive firs (and quirky ‘trees’ made out of all manner of creative materials) are the jewels in the crown of its Yuletide makeover, and there are so many to go and marvel at. Trafalgar Square’s annual gift from Norway comes backed by heartwarming tradition and Covent Garden’s doesn’t hold back when it comes to a bit of sparkle. The city’s bougiest hotels, meanwhile, call on artists and fashion designers to give a modern twist on a festive staple. Here’s our rundown of London’s must-see Christmas tree displays this year. RECOMMENDED: Where to buy a Christmas tree in London. 

The arrival of winter might make you want to do nothing else than hunker down in your toasty home under a pile of blankets. But, if you go into hibernation mode, you’ll miss out on a truly magical time in London. Luckily, there’s heaps of wintry pop-ups that spring up across the city at this time of year, each with their own cosy vibe that will recreate the feeling of being in your living room – and elevate it far beyond the possibilities of a night on the sofa. We’re talking riverside heated igloos, Alpine-themed lodges and kitschy nostalgia-themed bars that will keep you warm with atmosphere and, most importantly, yummy food and festive drinks. Here’s our round-up of the best hideaways, markets and quirky festive experiences waiting to lure you in from the cheek-tingling cold and warm your socks off.  RECOMMENDED: Here are the best things do in London this Christmas

If you’re in the mood for dancing, London’s array of dance classes will help you scratch that itch. Across the city, you’ll find fun tutorials in all styles, from jazz to Bollywood, contemporary to K-pop, and everything in between. Whether you’re looking to pick up some new moves to wow your mates with or for a different kind of endorphin-boosting workout than heading down the gym, the capital has it. Those on the Time Out team without two left feet have tried their hand (or foot?) at many classes across London, sweating through steps and memorising moves. While we might not be getting invited on ‘Strictly’ anytime soon (their loss), we’ve at least gained a wealth of knowledge about the city’s best dance spots. Here are some of our favourite classes and courses from across the dancing spectrum – take your pick and hotfoot it down to the studio. RECOMMENDED: Sport and fitness in LondonRECOMMENDED: The best classes in London

Love him, hate him or express total indifference to him, there’s little denying that Andrew Lloyd Webber remains Britain’s most popular ever composer of musical theatre. From his great ’70s works with Tim Rice to his ’80s enormo-success and his more, ah, mixed years since, here’s our ranking of his major musicals, from the genuinely great stuff to the shows that history would probably have been better off forgetting.   18. The Beautiful Game Even at their worst, the truth is Lloyd Webber’s scores are rarely the main problem with his musicals, but his choice of lyricists not named ‘Tim Rice’ is often catastrophic. Teaming up with Ben Elton to write a very earnest original story about Ireland during The Troubles is possibly as bad an idea as either of them have ever had, and they have both had some truly terrible ideas. 17. Whistle Down the Wind On paper, the pairing of Lloyd Webber and Meat Loaf’s songwriter Jim Steinman sounded agreeably bombastic. In reality, this adaptation of the classic Brit flick – torturously transposed to the American South – was ponderous and dull. 16. Stephen Ward Maybe there is a good musical to be made from the scandal of the eponymous society osteopath, destroyed by the Profumo Affair. But this first priapic, then self-righteous romp through the Swinging Sixties isn’t it. 15. Love Never Dies No, it’s not as bad as everybody says it was. Yes, it’s still fairly bad. This sequel to ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ looked good but lacked its predecessor

Tis the season where your bank balance is about to get tested and your cards are going to be working overtime. Christmas, with all its stockings to be filled and loved ones to be spoiled, means shopping and you’ll find tons of shops across London ready to help you satisfy the needs of the most important people in your life. You could cross off your entire list in one mad dash through a department store, or by avoiding the crowds and filling your online basket to the brim. But there’s something more fulfilling about weaving a path across the city and supporting businesses big and small, all while festive light displays twinkle overhead, pop-ups spring to life on every corner and the capital thrives with events. It can be daunting to know where to start when it comes to Crimbo, though, which can make you leave things to the last minute. To help, we’ve put together a list of brilliant Christmas shops where you can find gifts of all shapes, sizes and price tags. Ready, set, shop! RECOMMENDED: Read our complete guide to Christmas in London.

No matter how much mulled wine and mince pies you consume, it doesn’t feel completely like Christmas until you’ve got a fir tree in the corner of your living room and you’re fretting over getting the tinsel to lights ratio on it just right. A spectacularly decorated tree – and that smell of pine – is irresistible, even to the most hardened of Scrooges and a true sign that Santa, festive shows and winter pop-ups are on the way. If you’ve got metres of space or just a minuscule spot for a tree, you’ll find something to help you get in the spirit at one of the many markets, garden centres and pop-ups selling firs and spruces around London. Before you make your choice, here are some tips and tricks to getting the right one – and getting rid of it come January. Know your Christmas trees The Norway spruce is the tree that generations of Brits have grown up with: but although its shape is traditional and the price is affordable, you're likely to be hoovering its needles out of the carpet til Easter. The Nordmann fir is a pricier alternative that hangs onto its needles and is softer and glossier, which is great if you want less chance of pricking your fingers. If you're after a rich fragrance, seek out the rare Scots pine for its delicious scent, or make a fashion statement with the blue spruce, which has a gorgeous silvery hue. Get to grips with dimensions Don’t buy a tree until you've measured the space you want to put it in, and don't forget to take into account both the height of

‘Don't be a drag, just be a queen,’ sang Lady Gaga. And who are we to disagree? London is teaming with drag clubs and nights where you can rub shoulders with drag royalty at its wittiest, prettiest, and most fearless. There are stalwart venues including The Glory, Admiral Duncan or Royal Vauxhall Tavern, where you'll find drag shows pretty much any night of the week. But the fun doesn't stop there. Chase down stars from Ru Paul's Drag Race at venues like Clapham Grand. Or go to hybrid nights like drag quizzes, drag brunches or lip-syncing contests.  Before you head out on your London drag adventure, it’s a good idea to keep a few things in mind to make sure the night stays fun for everyone. Don't touch performers (unless they ask you to). Be sure not to make assumptions about performers' sexual orientation or pronouns: drag queens and kings can be any gender and any sexuality, that's part of the fun. If you're straight and cis, remember that you're in an LGBTQ+ space: go with an equally respectful mate and you'll usually be welcome, show up with a raucous stag or hen party and you might not be. Last but not least, let the queens know that you’re having a good time – they feed off a crowd’s energy, so give them something to shout about. RECOMMENDED: Keep the party going at London's best gay bars and gay clubs.

This review is from 2018; Hansel and Gretel returns for 2024. Engelbert Humperdinck’s 1893 opera for kids is as warm as a witch’s kitchen, and as dark as the forest outside. It swaps the Grimm Brothers’ fairytale’s wicked child-abandoning parents for a desperately poor couple who send their kids into the forest in a much-regretted flash of anger. And Antony McDonald’s stylish new production mixes in more than enough wit to leaven the bleakness of black forest poverty. The witch’s gingerbread house is a masterstroke: a lopsided cottage impaled with a giant knife that might just have been a warning to savvier kids than these two. But Humperdinck’s parent-provoking children are a refreshingly naughty antidote to all the saintly moppets that fill Victorian fiction. They gobble strawberries and leap up to tramp folk dances across the kitchen table. These stamping, finger-clicking scenes are probably the most German thing you’ll ever see outside a beer hall, and they make for moments of gutsy energy in a score that’s otherwise all about lush, rich romanticism. It might be nominally aimed at kids, but ‘Hansel and Gretel’ is musically complex, and its central duo are played by adult performers Hanna Hipp and Jennifer Davis. They mix knockabout tomfoolery with beautifully blending soprano voices that soar through the towering darkness of the forest – a place that hides a magical array of leaping woodland animals and fairy story characters who play in the shadows. The only disappointme

This review is from the London Palladium in July 2023. ‘The Wizard of Oz’ returns in 2024 to the Gillian Lynne Theatre with a new cast. Crashlanding onto the stage of London's Palladium, this high-octane 'Wizard of Oz' promises to obliterate the wicked witch of school holiday boredom, banishing her memory in an all-consuming explosion of video projections, perky songs and old-fashioned sap. It's certainly not subtle. But kids will complain that TikTok feels too slow after a few hours in its exhilarating company.Director Nikolai Foster's production started out at Leicester Curve theatre last year: now, it's hitting the West End with a souped-up cast designed to wring some humour from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams's overly sincere book. Now, comedian Jason Manford is playing the Cowardly Lion, but the book is light on jokes for this star to milk, so when Manford incongruously announces that 'I'm a friend of Dorothy', it brings the house down. In a less successful bit of star casting, reality telly personality and dance troupe Diversity's choreographer Ashley Banjo pops up as the Tin Man. His singing skills are somewhat rusty, so it's a relief when he breaks into a 'Hamilton'-style musical theatre rap.The standout performances here are the most vocally accomplished. As Dorothy, Georgina Onuorah delivers a subtle, rich 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow,' its wistful tone a welcome contrast with the score's bombastic newer songs. And Christina Bianco is an enchanting good fairy G

  ‘Mrs Doubtfire’ is the latest in a seemingly endless post-pandemic string of musical takes on retro movies. ‘Back to the Future’, ‘Dirty Dancing’, ‘Groundhog Day’... if you were born in the ’80s, the West End has decided that by now you're obviously loaded and ready to be milked of your money like a pantomime cow. Only this genuinely funny comedy musical doesn't feel like a cash grab, thanks to its twenty-first-century jokes, perfectly paced book, and silly voices galore.Writer John O’Farrell has worked on ‘Have I Got News For You’ and ‘Spitting Image’, and some of that topical flair can be seen here. Freshly divorced dad Daniel is a comic actor whose voiceover recording seshes ingeniously break out of the American world of the story: he begins with a witty theatre pre-show announcement, then breaks into non-naff impressions of Prince Harry and Boris Johnson. Refreshingly, this production has resisted the temptation to cast a famous funny person in the role, and musical theatre actor Gabriel Vick pulls off both the gags and the songs with impressive aplomb.This story’s serious bits aren't quite as well-handled. O’Farrell struggles a little to make Daniel’s ex-wife Miranda (Laura Tebbutt) more than a boring disciplinarian foil to Daniel's relentless zaniness (here, she gets an improbable fashion career and a 2D hunky love interest). Karey and Wayne Kirkpatricks’ lyrics don't zing with the kind of psychological insights or witty couplets musical theatre fans dream of. But wh

‘Present Laughter’ will return to UK cinemas as part of NT Live from July 18 2024. This review is from the Old Vic in 2019. Interview: the Hot Priest returns to the stage. He’s won hordes of new fans as a restrained, tormented priest in ‘Fleabag’, but this Noël Coward play shows Andrew Scott under a different kind of sexual torment. He plays Garry Essendine, a spoilt, petulant actor who gluts himself on the sex and intimacy his fans offer, then sits soggily in the mess he’s created. And he’s frighteningly good at it. Coward’s comedy lets Scott show off both his endless proficiency for delivering a well-timed quip, and his physical virtuosity. Each time Essendine’s resentful friends accused him of overacting (and that happens a lot) his gestures amplify until he’s carving his frustrations into the indifferent air. He shrugs off a new dressing gown his ex-wife gives him with the sinuous grace of a cat wriggling out of an expensive new collar, effusively praising it all the while. And his chemistry with Joe, the lover he takes against everyone’s better judgment, mixes a mocking knowingness with a desperate intensity that makes the audience gasp.  Coward admitted that ‘Present Laughter’ is basically him sending himself up, albeit in a way that was acceptable within the homophobic moral codes of WWII-era society. Matthew Warchus’s production takes things a step closer to real life. ‘Joanna’ has become ‘Joe’, and suddenly the illicit thrill of their relationship makes more sense, a

The almost uncanny perfection of Lulworth Cove draws thousands of holidaymakers each year, all enticed by this wonderfully round, calm bay and its views of the Dorset coast beyond. Stay at nearby seaside pub hotel Lulworth Cove Inn and you'll get stellar views over this rocky coastline, as well as the chance to escape the crowds with a brisk pre-breakfast stroll round its pebbled edges, or watch the sun set over its waters with an after-dinner pint. Owned by Dorset-based brewers Hall & Woodhouse, Lulworth Cove Inn's interiors mix old-school pubby charm with plenty of artfully arranged seaside flotsam and jetsam. Upended wooden boats become shelves housing maritime paraphenalia, vintage holiday posters paper the walls, and a cheery aqua and yellow colour scheme extends into the bedrooms upstairs, echoing the hues of the beach that's just a short toddle down the road. These rooms are all about solid, midcentury-style comfort, with cast iron bedsteads, wicker chairs, and carefully chosen vintage furniture that's a welcome break from other hotels' standard issue MDF. Still, there's enough freshness to stop it feeling fusty, with breezy colour palettes and whimsical touches like Roberts Revival radios lodged on the bedside tables and handmade stuffed toys parked on your pillow. The hefty cooked breakfasts make good hikers' fuel for anyone planning to set off along the Jurassic Coast come sunrise: if you can't stomach a full English, there are welcome lighter alternatives like gran

This review is from 2023. ‘For Black Boys…’ returns for 2024 with a new cast. To say that ‘For Black Boys...’ is the kind of show you don't normally see on the West End is a massive understatement. It’s a sleeper hit that started out at tiny fringe powerhouse the New Diorama, then transferred to the Royal Court before making it to Theatreland, powered by a passionate fanbase rather than rave reviews. All of its cast and most of its creative team are Black men, talking about their experiences of growing up in a world that often sidelines and stereotypes them in a style that's non-linear, raw, spontaneous, and massively fun to watch.Its creator Ryan Calais Cameron researched the play by running open-ended therapy-style sessions for Black men, ones that sprawled out over hours as they broached hard-to-talk-about subjects like mental health, masculinity, and love. Some of that same soul-baring earnestness finds its way into the finished play, which is structured around dream-like dialogues between the six cast members. ‘I'm already learning new ways to hate me’ says one boy, after getting ignored while playing kiss chase. This opening scene explores how school offers unwanted lessons first in other kids' prejudice, then, later, in the grinding historical traumas of slavery. The same rhythm patterns throughout the play, with big themes getting introduced and then broken down through the fragmented experiences of the cast.But it never quite feels predictable, because Calais Camero

The outskirts of Stoke-on-Trent don't feel particularly countrified, with their sprawling streets of tiny red brick workers' cottages and old pottery mills. But at the city's furthest edge you'll find the Manor House, a popular spa hotel that ekes every bit of rural charm from its location. The biggest draw? Its English country garden, with outdoor pools laid out in formal courtyards, with views of the rolling green meadows beyond. You'd think that a spa sesh at this spot would be a summer-only affair, but it works surprisingly well in chillier seasons (on our visit, snow was on the ground). A rich fug of steam rises from the main heated outdoor relaxation pool, which has an abundance of spots to lounge with a glass of fizz from the swim-up bar. Around it are thoughtfully designed cabins offering botanically inspired relaxation opportunities. The potting shed houses a herbal sauna, where a zing of lavender rushes through your airways as your limbs surrender to the steamy heat. The less intense salt steam chamber invites you to inhale salt and essential-oil scented vapours next to a rose quartz centrepiece (which, whether or not it has healing powers, certainly looks very pretty). And the glass-walled, heated sunroom is a blissful way to banish wintry gloom, with a swing overlooking green fields.   Need to warm up? There's also an indoor pool for proper swimming, and a short, crowd-pleasing list of treatments, including massages and skin treatments like a warming honey facial.

The outskirts of Stoke-on-Trent don't feel particularly countrified, with their sprawling streets of tiny red brick workers' cottages and old pottery mills. But at the city's furthest edge you'll find the Manor House, a popular spa hotel that ekes every bit of rural charm from its location. The biggest draw? Its English country garden, with outdoor pools laid out in formal courtyards, with views of the rolling green meadows beyond. You'd think that a spa sesh at this spot would be a summer-only affair, but it works surprisingly well in chillier seasons (on our visit, snow was on the ground). A rich fug of steam rises from the main heated outdoor relaxation pool, which has an abundance of spots to lounge with a glass of fizz from the swim-up bar. Around it are thoughtfully-designed cabins offering botanically-inspired relaxation opportunities. The potting shed houses a herbal sauna, where a zing of lavender rushes through your airways as your limbs surrender to the steamy heat. The less intense salt steam chamber invites you to inhale salt and essential-oil scented vapours next to a rose quartz centrepiece (which, whether or not it has healing powers, certainly looks very pretty). And the glass-walled, heated sun room is a blissful way to banish wintry gloom, with a swing overlooking green fields.   Need to warm up? There's also an indoor pool for proper swimming, and a short, crowdpleasing list of treatments that focus on massages and skin treatments like a warming honey faci

Ruthlessly funny and endlessly memeable, 2004’s Mean Girls is right at the twisted heart of the teen movie canon. This fun-but-timid musical reboot doesn’t have much hope of upstaging its sharper older sister, but it’s an enjoyable retread for anyone who doesn’t mind seeing this cattiest of films getting declawed. You can almost smell its creators’ damp-armpitted nervousness as they navigate 2024’s woker sensibilities: the cast is newly diverse and the script treads more lightly that the original, which hammered out jokes skewering teens’ ignorant stereotypes of Africa, fat shaming, and gay panic. In this Gen Z high school, the threat of getting mocked online is much, much scarier than an acid putdown in the corridors. Accordingly, the story’s beats are the same but they land differently: some are fumbled (the cringey attempted internet-speak of ‘I’m a cool mom with six 0s #besties’ just doesn’t hit the same), some are freshly hilarious (fawning Karen describes queen bee Regina’s pimple as ‘sexy – it’s like a face breast’). And everything’s heightened by a punchy-but-underused score of songs plucked straight from the hit 2018 Broadway ‘Mean Girls’ musical. Reneé Rapp’s performance as super-mean Regina is a highlight here, as she fills this high school tyrant with near-demonic levels of evil charisma. She’s got a great voice too, showcased in her barnstorming rock number ‘World Burn’. New girl Cady is no match for her: The Nice Guys’ Angourie Rice is Lindsay Lohan’s nerdier, s

There’s a visual sumptuousness to Belgian-Tunisian director Zeno Graton’s French-language debut film that’s unexpected, given that it’s set in such a bleak, grey place: a juvenile detention centre for teenagers. In dreamy, intense colours, he shades a powerfully physical romance between two boys who wrestle with each other, and against a system that doesn't want them to be free. When we first see Joe (Khalil Ben Gharbia), he’s playing by the rules. Sawing wood in the workshop. Watching patiently as other kids get visits from their families. Letting his pent-up emotions a permitted outlet in a poetry session where he spits out all his fury at a society where Arab boys like him are constantly surveilled and pushed to the edges. But the arrival of brooding, tattooed William (Julien De Saint Jean) shatters his will to conform. Their bond is instant and physical, with none of the angst that often accompanies coming out stories. They escape a cross-country run to roll among the fallen leaves, or dance to Arab pop until their bodies collide – and are dragged apart by youth workers. Ben Gharbia is a thoughtful, conflicted foil to De Saint Jean’s mesmerisingly strange, troubled performance here. He writhes like a contemporary dancer or retreats to etch out strange drawings of intertwined snakes, effortlessly suggesting a messed-up backstory that never really gets explained. A powerfully physical romance shaded in dreamy, intense colours But then writers Clara Bourreau and Maarten Loi

With her whitened face glowing above a snowy fur coat, her bleached eyelashes delicate as snowflakes, Gena Marvin seems like an inextricable part of the frosty Siberian landscape she grew up in. But as director Agniia Galdanova’s sympathetic, moving documentary shows, this 21-year-old drag artist couldn't have been born into a more inhospitable climate. Marvin’s grandparents can’t see her as anything other than a hapless, self-destructive lad – one who's dangerously obsessed with a Western artform that's at odds with the severe conformity of their Russian hometown of Magadan, literally and culturally built on an old Soviet gulag. Again and again, Marvin pushes at the limits of this bleak society. She’s kicked out of her local supermarket. So, spurred on by bigoted attacks against other Russian queer people, she decides to venture right into the middle of a paratroopers’ rally in full drag, attracting the stares of buff men in berets in scenes that are homoerotic and menacing all at once. It’s hard to understand the emotions coursing through Marvin’s body, as it’s wrapped in gaffer tape or barbed wire in a series of improvised exercises in fashion-as-armour. She admits to fear, but never to doubt as she embarks on her single-minded mission to subvert Russia's remorselessly anti-LGBTQ+ agenda. She’d rather show her trauma through performance, not words: so Galdanova and cinematographer Ruslan Fedotov collaborate with her on obliquely beautiful scenes where she writhes painfully

Kid's cartoon 'SpongeBob Squarepants' is such a uniquely North American creation. What other nation would take a cheery ocean sponge and force him to labour as a burger-flipping fast food worker whose only dream is to become ‘management material’? Still, what some might read as a bleak satire on the mind prison of capitalism, the makers of this musical adaptation deem a peppy story for kids, and they largely succeed in creating a fun, panto-esque show for summer holiday crowds. ‘The SpongeBob Musical’ had a stint on Broadway in 2017, reeling in audiences with its extravagantly camp design choices and a score of songs written by improbably big names including Cyndi Lauper, The Flaming Lips and Panic! At the Disco. This new touring UK production still has a seriously enjoyable (if inevitably disjointed) soundtrack, but director Tara Overfield Wilkinson’s production has a bit of a low-budget, panto-esque feel, with Steve Howell’s design gesturing vaguely to sea-rescuing sustainability by using crushed plastic bottles and rubber gloves. ‘You're just a simple sponge, but somehow you don't seem to absorb very much,’ SpongeBob's boss Eugene Krabs tells him, to audience ‘awwws’. But then, an underwater volcano threatens to turn this town's shelly inhabitants into mixed seafood tempura, and SpongeBob must save the day. Kyle Jarrow’s relentlessly saccharine book is light on both suspense and laughs, and this production’s declamatory straight-to-audience acting style and cringey mome

When London’s museums first started opening late in the 2000s, it was a total gamechanger. The V&A’s senior curator Susan McCormack led the charge, with buzzy after dark openings that brought younger audiences through the museum’s doors for a monthly line-up of talks, workshops, and live music. Soon, the other South Kensington institutions followed suit, while Tate Modern’s uber cool Tate Lates filled the gallery with DJs and sent queues snaking down Southbank. The initial hype might have subsided around museum lates, but they’re arguably more needed than ever. They’re a chance to do something (usually) free, fun and different in an increasingly pricy city, and to fill an unpromising weeknight with a bit of top quality culture. So it’s nice to see south London stalwart the Horniman getting in on the act, with a new late opening on the first Thursday of every month. The extended hours will run from 5.30pm to 9pm, giving you a chance to browse the free collections without dodging the dozens of kids that normally flock to this very child-friendly museum. The late openings will also have special events themed around the collections. In the first one on Thursday April 4, writer Jenny Lau invites people of east or southeast Asian heritage to bring their most treasured teacup to the museum’s Chá, Chai, Tea exhibition, and share their reflections for a new poem. There’s also a special Thursday Lates deal which means you can see the Horniman’s two current ticketed exhibitions (the aqu

The reviews are in for ‘Cabaret’, starring Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley, and they're pretty much universally star-scattered raves. Time Out’s own critic Andrzej Lukowski was full of praise for this ‘brilliant, chilling story, superbly realised, with a performance from Jessie Buckley that deserves to win awards’. So what’s the catch? Errr, the ticket prices are about as high as the West End ever stretches to. The most expensive seat is a whopping £325. Okay, that does include a tasting menu and lashings of champers, but it probably shouldn't cost as much as a last-minute package holiday to Malaga. Still, if you're a musical theatre fan on a budget, there's no need to despair. Your first option – if you're hellbent on seeing this show asap – is to check back for last minute returns as often as you can. Omicron means that many people are self-isolating and have had to return their tickets, so tickets for as little as £50 regularly pop up for December and January. Alternatively, your other way to see ‘Cabaret’ is to plan ahead. Really far ahead. Saturday March 19 is the last date you can see ‘Cabaret’ with its two stars, Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley, in place, which means the remaining few tickets start at £250. But if you're above the lure of star power, don't despair. From Monday March 21, there will be new leads (as yet to be announced) and the uncertainty means that you can score tickets for as little as £30.  A high-profile show like ‘Cabaret’ is bound to bring som

The London marathon happens (pretty much) every year, but somehow that doesn’t stop it coming as a huge surprise to even the most seasoned city-dwellers. So if you’re not already clued up, please be warned that this Sunday April 21, you’ll find 48,000 sweat-drenched runners stampeding through the city, trailing cheering fans, road closures, traffic restrictions in their wake. If your weekend plans involve a pleasant stroll through Blackheath, motoring over Tower Bridge, or picnicking in St James’ Park, please read on. Knowledge is power.  RECOMMENDED: Here’s the full guide to the 2024 London MarathonCheck out the 2024 route here What roads will be closed for the London marathon 2024? This handy map marks the overall route.   Image: Courtesy London Marathon But the roads on it aren’t necessarily closed all day. Instead, their closing times are staggered as the runners make their way from Greenwich to central London, meaning that an afternoon browsing the chichi shops of Blackheath is far from off the cards. Read on for a full breakdown of road closures and times:Charlton Way, Greenwich: 4am to 1pmShooters Hill Road: 4am to 1pmSt John’s Park: 7am to 1pmCharlton Park Road: 7am to 1pmOld Dover Road: 7am to 1pmLittle Heath: 7am to 1pmCharlton Park Lane: 7am to 1pmArtillery Place: 7am to 1pmJohn Wilson Street: 7am to 1pmWoolwich Church Street: 7am to 2pmWoolwich Road: 7am to 2pmTrafalgar Road: 7am to 3pmCreek Road: 7am to 3pmEvelyn Street: 8am to 4pmSurrey Quays Road: 8am to 4pmS

We’ve all been there: marooned on a lonely street at night, trying to melt into the safety of a bright red bus stop as strangers with potentially villainous intentions loom out of the darkness. Night buses are a much cheaper (and more eco) alternative to cabbing it home, and actually riding them usually offers safety in numbers, however chaotic the line-up of tipsy passengers might be. But there can still be an element of anxiety that comes with waiting for your ride to show up. Now, TfL is tackling the problem head on with a new programme of safety measures. A pilot scheme will install specially-designed CCTV cameras on selected bus stops: Peckham Library is the first stop to be outfitted with the new surveillance scheme, with shelters at Finsbury Park, Gants Hill, Stratford City and Turnpike Lane set to follow suit soon. The cameras will hopefully act as a deterrent, as well as storing footage for 31 days for any subsequent police investigations.  These new cameras will join an existing scheme to patrol TfL’s network at night. Since January this year, 15 specially trained night enforcement officers have been making their way around London’s tube and buses after dark. According to TfL, in their first four weeks they removed 47 passengers for obstructive, threatening or rule-breaking behaviour, as well as preventing 82 more passengers from boarding in the first place. Bringing in 15 officers might well sound like a drop in the ocean compared to the tens of thousands of passen

If you’ve got a free day in your calendar coming up, don’t squander it on something boring like batchcooking, cleaning or drafting vengeful messages to your foes. TfL has unveiled a new 15-mile walking route that crosses some of London’s most fascinating corners. Take on all the whole damn thing in a glorious (if exhausting) all-day hike, or pick and choose the stretches that catch your fancy.  The so-called Green Link Route is a direct response to London’s love affair with putting one foot in front of the other, with a 10 percent increase in walking since the pandemic, and 57 percent of us wanting more dedicated walking space (according to TfL). It’s the newest part of the Walk London network, which already includes much loved routes including the Green Chain and the Thames Path. Photograph: Go Jauntly It’s also a bit more urban in character than some of this city’s existing walking thoroughfares, crossing right through east London, from Peckham in the south right up to Epping Forest in the north. But the ethos of this route is all about avoiding traffic and helping walkers stumble upon hidden green spaces and historic sights, even in London’s busiest corners. That means that you’ll find yourself traversing Walthamstow Marshes, London Fields and Burgess Park, discovering fascinating historic sights like Clothworker’s Almhouses or Postman’s Park, and stumbling upon promising spots for lunch such as Islington’s Exmouth Market. Has your curiosity been piqued? Find the full ma

Normally, theatre awards are a mysterious business, with major showbiz gongs handed out by shadowy panels of industry insiders. But the WhatsOnStage Awards are an altogether different affair, because its winners selected by public vote amidst much online fanfare. In years gone by, this approach has yielded some slightly odd results: reflecting the fact that canny shows can mobilise their fanbases on social media in order to rake in the accolades. Still, it’s hard to argue with this year’s big winner. Hotshot director Jamie Lloyd’s stunning take on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Sunset Boulevard’ landed a whopping five stars in Time Out, with theatre critic Andrzej Lukowski praising its ‘wonderfully weird and audacious’ approach. Now, it’s landed seven wins at the 2024 edition of the WhatsOnStage Awards, with its star Nicole Scherzinger being anointed as best performer, and Lloyd being named best director.  However, Sunset Boulevard didn’t manage to land the coveted best musical gong, which went to ‘Cabaret’ at Playhouse Theatre. It’s arguably a bit weird for the title of best musical to go to a show that’s been open for well over two years, instead of celebrating fresh blood in the West End. But unlike other awards, the WhatsOnStage Awards have categories specifically designed to celebrate long-running shows. And they also delve much deeper than most awards around, highlighting backstage talent as well as regional and small-scale shows that don’t get a look in elsewhere. Curious to s

For over 40 years, the waiting room at Tottenham’s Bruce Grove station was left to moulder. Plaster crumbled from the walls, the roof rotted away, and passing passengers were left wondering what lay beyond its boarded up windows. Now, finally, a project funded by Transport for London and Arriva Rail London has unveiled this once-hidden Victorian space to the public once more, and it’s a beaut.  The jewel in the crown is the waiting room, which has been restored to its original 1872 design, complete with the bold green and ivory colour scheme favoured by its then-owners, Great Eastern Railway. Heritage features including cast iron radiators, wooden benches, fireplaces and gothic arches doors have all been lovingly restored thanks to a £35,000 grant from the Railway Heritage Trust.  Photograph: courtesy of Arriva Rail London But the works have also extended to three other spaces - including the old station master’s office, also decommissioned in 1980 and fallen into disrepair. Now, Bruce Grove station has a brand-new community space, staff mess room, and storage facility to play with. It’s all a welcome fresh start for this Tottenham transport hub, which provides valuable Overground links into central London. Looking for an excuse to visit? It’s named after nearby Bruce Castle, a sixteenth-century manor which houses local history displays as well as a collection of dreamy paintings of veiled women by artist Beatrice Offor (1864-1920), who once lived in the area. Head down and

Here’s some warming news for a cold and frosty day. Undeterred by the kind of weather that even London Zoo’s penguins might reasonably describe as ‘a bit nippy’, a critically endangered troupe of Western Lowland gorillas are welcoming a new addition to their dwindling clan. Two days ago, London zookeepers noticed that mother Mjukuu was preparing to give birth. London Zoo’s Primates Section Manager Kathryn Sanders said: ‘We started our day as normal – we gave the gorillas their breakfast and began our cleaning routines. When we returned to their back dens, we could see Mjukuu was starting to stretch and squat – a sign that she was in labour.’ In a feat that most human mothers would envy, Mjukuu gave birth in just 17 minutes, before cuddling the new arrival in the safety of her indoor back den. Wisely, the zookeepers gave her plenty of space, monitoring her progress via CCTV.  According to Sanders: ‘Mjukuu was spotted on camera tenderly holding her newborn and demonstrating her wonderful mothering instincts – cleaning her infant and checking it over. We’ll be giving mum and baby lots of time and space to get to know each other, and for the rest of the troop to get used to their new addition – they’re as excited as we are and can’t stop staring at the baby.’ Zookeepers still don’t know the sex of the new arrival (good luck to anyone tasked with prying the little one away to examine its genitals). But they’re thrilled that an international conservation breeding programme for West

For decades, ‘meet me at the pagoda’ was a classic utterance for anyone planning a Chinatown get-together, whether it involved feasting on crispy duck pancakes or delighting in wontons and equally delicious insults from the legendarily rude waiters at Wong Kei. Now, Wong Kei’s staff have been to charm school, and that pagoda is a distant memory. The ornate structure was taken down in 2016 after over 30 years in service, as part of a project to regenerate Chinatown. A replacement was promised imminently, but it’s only now, eight years later, that Chinatown’s finally getting one. Westminster City Council has allocated a quarter of a million pounds to creating a new, multi-tiered pagoda. The building will be designed and created in authentic style in China, then shipped over and installed in Chinatown as a meeting point for new generations of Londoners.  It won’t come a minute too soon for Chinatown’s businesses, acting as a sign of renewed hope and investment in a district that’s struggled through the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis. Originally, London’s Chinatown was in Limehouse in the East End, where eighteenth century sailors settled and created a community complete with shops and restaurants. But in the 1950s the centre of gravity shifted to London’s centre, which combined cheap rents with pleasure-seeking crowds in search of fun and good food. By the 1980s, Chinatown was finally recognised by local government and turned into a recognisable version of today’s tourist ho

I hate to break it to you, but if your Christmas shopping still isn’t done, you’re skating on seriously thin ice. There’s not much time before you plunge into a freezing cold lake of regret. Thankfully, if you’ve got some spare time this weekend, all is not lost. Here are four not-too-taxing craft ideas for perfect presents: the materials are all things you could pick up your local corner shop, the actual artistic skills required are average-to-minimal, and the results will be pretty great, especially compared to whatever generic nonsense you could pick up on a last-minute dash down your local high street. Go on, give it a go. ’Tis officially the season to make your Mum remember what it felt like to be proud of you. Photograph: Jess Hand Chocolate salami This idea is shamelessly borrowed from Nigella Lawson, who in turn shamelessly borrowed it from the entire Italian nation, who have been crafting biscotti sausages at Christmas for decades. What makes this version different is that unlike the traditional recipe, it doesn’t include fresh cream and eggs: which means you can stick it under the tree without causing major issues (at Christmas, preventing e coli is at the forefront of no one’s minds). Plus, it’s way more than a gag gift: it’s deliciously moreish sliced with a cup of tea, like a cross between a Florentine and a chocolate truffle. Just be careful not to gift it to anyone who’ll be disappointed it’s not actual meat... 300g dark chocolate100g salted butter150g conden

Once, Christmas jumpers were the preserve of primary school teachers and kooky grannies. Now, they’re pretty much obligatory as December’s silly season dawns, with even serious-minded fashionistas deigning to swathe themselves in technicoloured wool, jingly bells, and the odd flashing light or two when Christmas Jumper Day rolls round. Still, David Attenborough wouldn’t be very impressed by the carbon footprint of a sweater that only gets a couple of wears a year. Luckily, a new Covent Garden pop-up shop is here to help. Kids charity Save the Children is opening a pre-loved Christmas knitwear store on Friday December 1, at 5-7 Shorts Garden, Covent Garden. It’ll house a collection of second-hand knits that are perfect for anyone looking to make a splash on their school or office Christmas Jumper Day – an event that’s raised £35 million for Save The Children since it began a decade ago. But there’s also a twist. The shop is called Story Knits, because each jumper on sale will tell the story of a child that Save The Children has helped. These tales include those of Junior, who’s been taught to grow climate resistant crops on the Solomon Islands, and of Kiki, who uses a Save The Children-supported food bank in the UK. The store will be open for just one week in the run-up to Christmas Jumper Day (on Thursday December 7) and will run from 11am-2pm and 4:30pm-7:30pm. Sweaters will be priced at £30, with all funds going straight to Save The Children. Can’t make it down? There’s als

2023年夏、ロンドン市民は深刻な「バービー熱」に見舞われた。グレタ・ガーウィグに憧れ、ピンクのキラキラしたアイシャドーに夢中になり、自分の仕事は「ただビーチにいること」など、事実にいろいろ逆らって主張する、というのが症状だ。涼しくなってくれば、比較的平常心が戻ってくるかと思いきや、そうはならないかもしれない。 ロンドンの「デザインミュージアム」が、バービーファンの熱烈なピンクの炎をさらに燃え上がらせる展覧会を開催すると発表したのだ。この展示は、カリフォルニアにあるバービーの公式アーカイブに特別にアクセスすることを許可された同館が掘り出した、バービーの65年の歴史を物語るパステルカラーの「宝物」で構成される。 この開催タイミングは完璧に思えるが、実は3年越しで計画されており、映画が公開されるずっと前から予定されていたという。 デザインミュージアムでの展覧会ということで、当然部屋に「おもちゃ」を並べるだけでは終わらない。同館は展示について「ファッション、建築、家具、乗り物のデザインなど、デザインのレンズを通してバービーの世界を探求する」と説明している。実物大の「夢の道場カサ・ハウス」や、おしゃれなピンクの車が展示されることを期待しよう。 そしてこの展覧会では、バービー誕生の大物語にも迫ることになると思われる。 バービーは元々、リリというドイツの人形に影響を受けて作られたキャラクターだ。リリはタバコ屋やバーで買えるジョークグッズとして作られたものだったため、あからさまにセクシーなプロポーションをしていた。しかし、マテル社の創業者の一人である女性クリエーターのルース・ハンドラーにとっては、それが意外なインスピレーションとなった。 そうして、当時流行していた「赤ちゃん人形」ではなく、大人の女性に見えるようデザインされた人形、バービーが誕生したのだという。 この物語の続きが知りたいバービーマニアは、2024年7月5日（金）に予定されている展覧会のスタートを楽しみに待とう。 関連記事 『A dazzling new Barbie exhibition is coming to the Design Museum in 2024（原文）』 『映画「バービー」が好きなら見ておきたい映画10選』 『世界で最も美しいピンク色の場所8選』 『2023年公開の注目映画17選』 『バンクシー、カウズ、草間彌生も？ ロンドンに現代美術館「Moco」がオープン』 『坂本龍一のバーチャルコンサート「KAGAMI」がロンドンに上陸』 東京の最新情報をタイムアウト東京のメールマガジンでチェックしよう。登録はこちら